Rotatable discharge nozzle for fixed combustion chambers



June 6, 1950 R H GODDARD 2,510,570

ROTATABLE D'ISCHARGE NOZZLE FOR FIXED comaus'rxou CHAMBERS Filed March26, 1946 m y 2.41. WNW-8g; W

Patented June 6, 1950 7 ROTATABLE DISCHARGE NOZZLE FOB FIXED COMBUSTIONCHAMBERS Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis, Md., by EstherC. Goddard, executrix, Paxton, Mass, assignor of one-half to The Danieland Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application March 26, 1946, Serial No. 657,105 1 Claim. (Ci.Gil-35.6)

This invention relates to the discharge nozzles of combustion chambersas commonly used'in rocket and aircraft operation.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a fixed combustionchamber with a rotatably mounted discharge nozzle and also to provideeffective means for rotating the nozzle.

A further object is to provide improved means for utilizing saidrotating discharge nozzle as a. convenient source of power. i

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed ou inthe appended claim.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawin in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of combustion apparatus embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rotatable nozzle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail ofcertain parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isa perspective view of a nozzle support I or bearing;

Fig; 5 is a reverse perspective view of a pump impeller;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a pump casing;

Fig. I is a partial radial section of the im-- peller; and v Fig. 8 is aperspective view showing modified means for taking off power from therotating nozzle.

Referring to the drawing, a fixed combustion chamber C is shown having anozzle N rotatably mounted rearward thereof and adjacent thereto. Thenozzle N is provided with bearing supports or spiders iii and l I,mounted adjacent the opposite ends thereof and provided with circulartracks l4 and I5 which are'rotatable in a plurali- The small end of thenozzle is outwardly flanged as indicated at 22 (Fig. 3), and is looselyrotatable in an annular casing member 24 of U-shaped cross section whichis fixed to the discharge end of the casing of the combustion chamher C.A sealing liquid as water may be supplied to the annular casing 24through a pipe 26.

A series ofradial vanes 28 are mounted on the entrance face of the fixedannular casing 24 as shown in Fig. 3, and a similar series of radialvanes 30 are mounted on that face of the rotating flange 22 which ismore remote from the combustion chamber C. I

With this construction, such portions of the sealing liquid as passoutward around the outside edge of the radial. vanes 30 will be,retained by centrifugal force, and very slight if any leakage will occurbetween the vopen edge 24a of the annular casing 24 and the outersurface'of the nozzle N.

Any leakage which may occur between the rear end of the combustionchamber C and the adjacent outwardly curved surface of the nozzle Nwould be unobjectionable, as addition of water to the combustion gasesat this point will help to cool the gases and also to increase the volumthereof by the formation of steam.

Provision is thus made for supporting and rotating the nozzle N adjacentthe discharge end of the combustion chamber C and for sealing theconnection between the fixed and rotating parts. This connection is in alow pressure area where the stream of combustiongases changes directionand begins to expand.

Any convenient means may be provided for taking of! power from therotating nozzle. In Fig. 1, three centrifugal pumps 40, 4| and 42 areshown mounted on the nozzle N. These pumps may be utilized to supply twodiflerent combustion liquids under pressure to the chamber C and asealing liquid to the pipe 26. These pumps may be of any usualcentrifugal type, and each comprises a casing 45 (Fig. 6) surrounded bya volute 46 connected to a discharge pipe 41. An impeller 48 is mountedwithin each pump casing 45 and is provided with a series of holes 50through which In Fig. 8 a modified construction is shown in which anozzle N rotatably mounted adjacent a combustion chamber C is providedwith annular sprockets 60 and BI by which chains 62 and 63 may bedriven. These chains may extend to sprockets on adjacent shafts or mayotherwise be utilized for power purposes.

The utility and advantages of the constructions herein described will bereadily apparent.

The invention is not to be limited to the details mounted within saidnozzle and projecting into the outer and cooler portion only of thestream of discharge gases in said nozzle, said vanes being operative torotate said nozzle, a pump impeller mounted directly on said nozzle androtatable a 4 therewith, a fixed pump casing for said impeller supportedcoaxial therewith, and means to supply to said impeller a liquid to bepumped.

ESTHER C. GODDARD; Eatec-utria: of the Last Will and Testament of RobertH. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 832,230 Bettis Oct. 2, 1906961,216 Dow June 14, 1910 2,145,541 Forsberg Jan. 31, 1939 2,153,640Podbielniak Apr. 11, 1938 2,283,863 Achterman May 19, 1942 2,302,512Wilsmann Nov. 17, 1942 2,412,173 Pope Dec, 3, 1946

